|
Counselor's Corner |
|
October 2004 |
|
|
|
Help keep middle school students safe at high school events A couple of real dangers actually exist in a situation like this, especially during football season. While the game is supervised by high school and middle school staff members, it is impossible to ensure that the situation is completely secure. The physical layout of the athletic fields, coupled with darkness, presents some problems. While plastic fencing exists between the bleachers and the woods now, kids do sneak out into the darkness of the forest. Most kids hang out on the south end of the fiield and on the track, visiting and watching the game with friends. Others choose to run around and involve themselves in what would be considered horseplay. A few decide it might be fun to venture out into the darkness or head out onto the east side of the gym, away from the crowd and from supervision. There have also been instances in past years where kids are dropped off by parents, and as soon as the parents have driven off, the kids are on their way into town or over to Ray's without parents having any idea the kids haven't stayed at the high school. A third scenario includes kids staying after school on game night with the intention of sticking around untill the 7:00 kickoff. There is no supervision at the middle school after 3:00, so in this example kids end up with a three to three and a half hour stretch of unstructured, unsupervised time. The question becomes, "If parents aren't at the game with their kids, who is responsible for them?" and "As a parent, do you really know where your child is?" Bend High School has adopted a policy that elementary and middle school students cannot be admitted to high school games without an adult. While Sisters School Disstrict is not making moves in that dirction, Bend's decision was for some of the same reasons presented here. So whether it is for an athletic contest, concert or other event, we suggest parents of middle school students follow these guidelines:
|